Waldrum confident as Super Falcons face must-win Japan clash with eyes on QF berth at Paris Olympics

Randy Waldrum, the head coach of Nigeria’s women’s football team, has expressed confidence in the Super Falcons’ prospects as they prepare for a crucial match against Japan in the final Group C game at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Soccernet.ng reports.

A win in this encounter is essential for the Super Falcons to advance to the knockout stages of the competition.

Currently, the Super Falcons are at the bottom of Group C, with no points or goals from their first two matches. Japan and Brazil boast three points while Spain have six to secure their claim as group leaders.

Despite this, Waldrum remains optimistic that a victory over the Asian champions could secure their place in the last-eight of the tournament.

“The way the matches had gone, we still needed a result against Japan and had the chance of going through, so whether we lose or we draw, we still had the opportunity,” Waldrum explained.

“I think if we beat Japan depending on what happens in Canada’s group since they have got six points.

“I think it’s going to be difficult for a third-placed team to come out of that group, so it’s going to come out of the other two groups and right now Japan got the win late against Brazil.

“So, they are on three points and Brazil are on three points, so if we can get the result against Japan, we’ll be on three (points), so there’s a possibility that we can still go through as third-place team in that group.”

The Super Falcons have faced Japan once before in the Olympics, securing a 1-0 victory to reach the quarterfinals at the 2004 Athens Olympics. This history gives the team hope as they prepare for what could be a decisive game in their Olympic campaign.